Question:
Has anyone else experienced weight pounds, or being able to eat anything in large amounts?

I am over 4 years out. This last 6 months I have put on about 35 pounds.I am worried that I have really stretched my stomach. I can eat anything and alot. Any suggestions for me. Has anyone else experienced weight gain of several pounds, or being able to eat anything in large amounts? Thanks for your support. I had the VGB surgery in 1996.    — sally W. (posted on February 2, 2001)

February 1, 2001
Not to discourage you, but I had a VBG in 1984. At three years out, the same thing happened to me. I was young, and my Mother felt like it was just another failure on my part. My surgeon had retired, and I didn't have the knowledge to find someone else to help me. I went from 246 to 139 with the VBG. Over the next few years, I regained every one of those 107 lbs. Subsequently, I had two pregnancies, and gained 85 lbs with them. I gained more weight after my husband's death, eventually packing on an additional total of 109 lbs. The staple line had disrupted. I had a revision from VBG to RNY April 2000, and am now down 130 lbs, 50 lbs from my goal at which time I'll pursue plastic surgery. I urge you to seek a surgeon to determine and correct your problem before you gain it all back. VBGs have a high failure rate, so don't think it's your fault. The RNY is totally different, and it's mechanics helped me change habits to give me success for life. I wish you the best.
   — [Deactivated Member]

February 2, 2001
I had the VBG back in 1989. I lost 85 pounds. I started gaining back the weight. I had two pregnancies and gained only 20 with each, but I never took off an ounce after the babies were born! I found that I could eat any quantity of cookies, chips or candy but a bite of an olive could have me vomiting for hours. I was afraid to eat meat, most vegetables, bread, and fruits. If I did, I'd vomit. So I ate very little of the good stuff and lots of the bad. The weight all came back. I was miserable. I was even vomiting blood and became anemic. I had moved and was quite a few states away from the surgeon who did the surgery so I went to mY PCP who sent me to some kind of a specialist and I had two endoscopies - the first to see what was wrong and the second to try to "stretch" the opening into my stomach. Of course, because there it was banded, it couldn't be stretched. The doctor didn't have a clue on what to do. So, I ended up calling the doctor who did the original surgery. He was very helpful and wanted me to come back to him and he'd do his new surgery and said I would feel wonderful. I thought about it but was afraid to do it. I ended up finding a surgeon where I lived to just reverse the stomach stapling and "put me back". He did and I felt just fine. Of course, I didn't lose weight and gained some more. Several years later (and several moves to different states) I touched base with the original surgeon and ended up flying up to where he was and having the RNY done. That was 2/18/00. I have no regrets in having the surgery. The only regret I do have is that I didn't go to him after talking with him on the phone. Definitely go see a bariatric surgeon and get his opinion. The best of luck to you!
   — newmexico

February 2, 2001
Although I had an non-transected RNY, I did have a staple line disruption. Unfortunately, they are all too common. Those of us who were done a few years back were lucky to BE done and get out from under our comorbs for a few years, so I'm not pouting about it. But it does need to be seen by a bariatric surgeon who will know what he's looking at and how to change you over to a more modern procedure.
   — vitalady